The pundits will be debating this issue but the fact is Barack Obama is the big winner with today's announcement of Edwards leaving the race. by Gary Wood
(conservative)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The campaign to become the next President just got tighter today with former Senator John Edwards dropping out of the race. In his speech from the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans Edwards presented a stump like announcement to suspend his campaign. By suspending it he effectively ended the march while maintaining influence over the delegates he has won to this point. His greatest focus was emphasizing to people, while reminding his former opponents, not to give up the fight against poverty in the United States. After the speech he lent his muscles to the task of furthering the building in homes in what has become known as Musicians Village.
Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama discussed Mr. Edwards's decision to drop from the campaign prior to the actual speech. Each had received a phone call from Edwards to let them know he was about to announce his decision to leave the race while asking each of them to carry on his message on poverty. Although both of the Democratic candidates remaining in the race thank Mr. Edwards and promised to keep the message alive it was the manner in which Senator Obama delivered his assurance that indicates strongly he will benefit the most from Mr. Edwards dropping out of the race.
Addressing a crowd of 9,000 in Denver, CO Barack Obama was extremely complimentary of the service and sacrifice the Edwards family has made in delivering the message of help for lower income and unity for the nation. "John and Elizabeth Edwards believe deeply that two Americans can become one," he said as he led the crowd in a standing ovation for both. Whether he ever receives a direct endorsement for John Edwards is yet to be seen.
However, there is little doubt Barack Obama is the clear winner of any voters who have supported John Edwards and now will be looking for a new candidate to support. Most of the voters in the Democratic primaries know Hillary Clinton very well. Edwards gained support from a large number of people who did not want to cast their votes for Hillary. Many who supported Edwards knew him better than they know Senator Obama due to his time in the spotlight in 2004 and the campaign he's been running since early 2006.
Some may well end up supporting Senator Clinton. On Super Tuesday you will see most of the voters left without a candidate today will gravitate to the Obama campaign. As they get to know his message, hear eloquently delivered familiarity with what they believe regarding poverty and uniting the country an option will be available that still allows them to not vote for Hillary Clinton. Granted she has a large base of those who admire her but those supporting John Edwards were not among that base and Senator Barack Obama just moved a lot closer to winning he Democratic delegate race with this timely departure. A week is enough time for most of the Edwards supporters to embrace Obama and hand him victory.
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2008 by Gary Wood - Permission to copy with attribution granted.
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